Best Credit Cards for 2017

What is the best credit card for you? We can help you decide.By Andy Bowen

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Whether you want to make a balance transfer or rack up rewards points, you need the best credit card to make your plans go smoothly. We’ve taken the time to review several leading cards and have put together our list of the top credit cards for 2017. Take a look at our rundown and apply online for the one that’s right for you.

Our two cents

Overall, the is one of the best credit cards available today. Customers who want a generous signup bonus will appreciate the 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. The also features a wide array of redemption options for travel, gift cards, and more.

The cardholders who are going to be able to make the most of the are the ones who do a lot of traveling and dining out. For an alternative, we recommend the card, which lets cardholders earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, not just travel and dining.

Why you'll love it

If you find yourself traveling and dining out more often than not, you will enjoy earning rewards with the . In addition to the generous signup bonus, you’ll also love getting 25% more value when you redeem points through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. (Just to give you an idea of what that looks like: 50,000 bonus points are worth $625 toward travel.)

Our two cents

Anyone looking to chip away at mounting credit card debt will find what they’re looking for in the card. Just as the name suggests, you’ll get 18 months of interest-free bliss to pay off an outstanding card debt. The card also comes with a dollar-for-dollar Cashback Match™ at end of the first year.

The intro APR of the is one of the best credit card offers of its kind. However, if you’re trying to finance a new purchase instead of transferring a balance, the might be a better choice. Its 15-month 0% intro APR for purchases is significantly longer than that of the Discover card’s ( 6 months).

Why you'll love it

The is one of our top credit cards because of its generous window of 0% intro APR on balance transfers. So, you can finally have the wiggle room to pay off an outstanding balance with ample time to avoid accruing interest. In addition, many cardholders will appreciate the 6 months of 0% intro APR on purchases.

Our two cents

Anyone who wants rewards for everyday spending, families in particular, should look into the . With this card, you can earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets for up to $6,000 in purchases (per year; drops to 1% after). The also offers 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores.

The can be a little restricting as your earnings can generally be redeemed just as statement credits. For more flexible redemption options, the is a great alternative. This card lets you rack up the points and redeem them for cash back, discounted travel, and more.

Why you'll love it

Imagine a card with a rewards program that lines up with the regular spending habits of a typical family. The is one such card, allowing you to earn high-rate rewards at many stops on your daily journey. It’s a credit card that makes earning cash back both fast and easy.

Our two cents

The is a leading choice for anyone who wants to earn cash back on their everyday spending. Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (drops to 1% after). You can also earn 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores.

If you don’t use your credit card on everyday purchases (groceries, gas, etc.), then you might not get the most out of the . In that case, you might benefit from a card with high-rate rewards in rotating categories. The can offer you 5% cash back on rotating categories (on up to $1,500 in purchases, quarterly).

Why you'll love it

What’s not to love about a credit card that features a straightforward cash back rewards program? The comes with a rewards plan that falls in line with everyday spending habits. No rotating categories, no elaborate spending strategies – just use the card and start earning cash back.

Our two cents

Cardholders looking for a fast way to earn miles will get the most out of the . It makes our top credit cards list for the simple fact that you can earn 2x miles per every dollar you spend on purchases. The makes it easy.

If you like earning miles on everyday purchases but don’t like annual fees, then the might not be for you. (It’s waived for the first year, but $59 annually afterward.) The has a rewards rate of 1.25 miles per dollar spent and a smaller signup bonus, but there’s no annual fee to worry about.

Why you'll love it

The stands among the best credit cards on our list for everyday travel rewards. Being able to earn unlimited 2x miles for every dollar you spend makes saving up for a vacation fast and simple. Also, taking advantage of the signup bonus nets you 40,000 bonus miles (after spending $3,000 within first 3 months), which translates to $400 toward travel.

Rewards Details:10% customer points bonus on every purchase when you have an active Bank of America® checking or savings account. 1.5 points on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.

Annual Fee:$0.00

Balance Transfer Fee:3% of the amount of each transaction or $10, whichever is greater.

A big draw for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is how it offers an extra 10% customer points bonus on purchases to Bank of America customers. At the same time, there are other top cards on our list that offer great rewards regardless of where you do your banking. One such alternative is the card which offers 1.5x miles per dollar spent and has no annual fee.

Why you'll love it

Cardholders will appreciate the freedom and flexibility of the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card when it comes to booking vacations and earning points. All purchases can yield 1.5x points per dollar spent and you can redeem these points at discount travel sites. Furthermore, Bank of America customers can get even more points with the extra 10% customer points bonus.

Our two cents

Leisure and business travelers who are loyal to Starwood® hotel brands will feel at home with the perks and rewards provided by the . This card helps you earn 2 Starpoints® per every dollar spent at SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels across the world, including Aloft, Sheraton, and Courtyard Marriott.

Frugal hotel guest might not get the most out of the . The annual fee, while waived for the first year, could also be a deal breaker at $95. In this case, consider the IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card (currently unavailable) with an annual fee of $49 (waived for the first year) and a rewards program for purchases made at IHG hotel brands including Holiday Inn and Candlewood Suites.

Why you'll love it

The makes a great travel companion for the traveler who prefers SPG® and Marriott Rewards® properties. It also comes with no foreign transaction fees, and rewards can be redeemed at over 1,300 participating hotels and resorts in 100 countries.

Our two cents

Casual card users who like a little variety in their rewards categories as well as a great rewards match program will appreciate the card. Among the best credit cards on this list, the card features great perks including 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Target now through December 2017, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate.

A year can be a long time to wait for that dollar-for-dollar match offered by the card. If you would rather have your reward sooner, you could go with the . With this card, you can get a $200 bonus just by spending $1,000 within the first 3 months.

Why you'll love it

There’s a lot to love about a credit card like the . It lets you redeem your cash back rewards without any fear of those rewards expiring. Plus, the dollar-for-dollar match at the end of the first year can be a real boon. Say you’ve earned $500 cash back within the first year. Suddenly you’re looking at $1,000 thanks to the cash back match.

Best cash back redemption bonus

Get a $200 cash rewards bonus after you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days after account opening

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase. Every time you redeem, get a 5% cash rewards redemption bonus to use toward your next redemption

Redeem your cash rewards for a deposit into a U.S. checking or savings account, a statement credit or gift cards. Redemptions start at $50

Cash rewards do not expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing

Enjoy a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months on purchases.

Plus, you'll get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months for each balance transfer made within 45 days of account opening. After that a variable APR will apply, 15.99%, 20.99% or 25.99%, based on your creditworthiness.

Our two cents

What’s better than a credit card with rewards? How about a card that rewards you again after you’ve redeemed your rewards? That’s what the is all about, letting you get 5% of your rewards back every time you redeem. You can also get unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on all purchase,s and there’s no annual fee.

Depending on your spending habits, you might be able to earn more with a higher-rate cash back card. If you would prefer more options with 5% cash back in rotating categories, an alternative like the might be a better fit.

Why you'll love it

The is one of the more straightforward options in our rundown of the top credit cards. Plus, the 5% redemption bonus each time you redeem points gives you extra incentive to use the rewards you’ve earned on every purchase.

Limited Time Offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.

Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles after you spend an additional $1,000 with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer expires on 11/8/2017.

Earn 2 miles on every dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases.

Check your first bag free on every Delta flight - that's a savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four.

Our two cents

Frequent flyers of Delta Airlines will want to look into the . Purchases made directly through Delta earn 2 miles per dollar spent. Combined with Priority Boarding, free bag checks, and other useful perks, the could be your quintessential traveling companion.

If you don’t fly Delta and you don’t want an annual fee, then the might not be the right credit card for you. Those who prefer Southwest might consider the , which earns unlimited 2X points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases plus Rapid Rewards® hotel and rental car purchases.

Why you'll love it

If you fly with Delta, this card offers perks that help you travel in style. Furthermore, the features a generous signup bonus that you can use to earn miles even faster to plan your next big getaway!

Credit card pro tips

Among the common questions we try to answer are “What are the benefits of a credit card” and “What are points on a credit card?” Both the former and the latter can vary based on which card you’re talking about, so we’ve done our best to cover these subjects in broader detail.

Hidden benefits

Although the best credit cards offer a slew of obvious benefits including cash back and travel rewards, other perks aren’t always advertised prominently. Examples include:

Zero liability for fraudulent purchases

$0 foreign transaction fees

Rental car coverage

Free FICO® Score

Extended warranties

Roadside assistance

You might have to dig deeper to find them, but these features can truly come in handy. If used correctly, they can even help you save money, travel safer, and protect yourself from undue risk.

Understanding points and other rewards

Points are just one example of rewards programs. They typically serve as a card-specific currency you can earn at varying rates and then redeem for various rewards. Many different cards offer different forms of rewards and it pays to research these to know what you’re getting into. This is where it really pays to read the fine print.

Take this for example: You might see that a particular airline card offers the first checked bag free on every flight. It’s a great perk, but without scrutinizing the fine print, you might not learn that cardholders also get checked baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, discounts on eligible in-flight purchases, or other goodies. If you aren’t aware of all the features, you probably won’t get the maximum benefit from even the best credit card.

Always treat your card like cash

The quickest way to enter a downward spiral is to use a credit card to make a large purchase you cannot afford. If you don’t have the cash to pay for something, don’t use credit as an excuse to justify the purchase. Only charge what you can afford to pay off each month — period.

What credit card should I get?

It all comes down to your everyday spending habits. Ideally, you want a card that rewards those spending habits rather than one that forces you to adjust how you purchase things. These cards we’ve covered are some of the best on the market and a great place to start.

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